Climate ChoiceA Comparison of Public Attitudes with International Policy

by David Wojick, Ph.D., PE

International climate policy is obsessed with the supposed threat
of global warming, with little regard for the benefits warming
might bring. But if human activities can actually warm the planet,
then we must ask ourselves: "What climate do we want?"

The remarkable weather events of November and December 1998 strongly
suggest that, in the higher latitudes at least -- North America,
Europe and northern Asia -- where most warming is predicted to
occur -- warmer is much preferred.

While New England, Canada and the Upper Midwest enjoyed unseasonably
warm temperatures, many people froze to death in Europe and Russia.
The contrast between the newspaper accounts of these opposite
events is striking. It seems obvious that if the prospect of warmer
winters were put to a vote in these regions, it would win hands
down.

Here is the view of the great Isaac Asimov on the importance of
warmth to human life:

"The vast amount of energy placed at the disposal of humanity,
through fire, could be, and was, used to revolutionize the nature
of our existence. The mere fact that fire was a source of heat
independent of the sun meant that humans could roam beyond the
tropics that imprison our nearest living relatives, the great
apes, and into the damp, cold regions with seasons of snow and
long freezing nights."

"It was fire and fire alone that enabled man to become a creature
native to all the world and put mastery into his hand."